Wigan Athletic beaten by Port Vale in opening pre-season friendly

Wigan Athletic were beaten 3-1 by Port Vale in their opening pre-season friendly as Gary Caldwell’s side continued their preparations for the 2026/27 League One campaign.

There were positive moments for the Latics at the Brick Community Stadium, but Port Vale were worthy winners, with Rhys Walters scoring twice in the first half before a trialist added a third after the break.

Wigan started brightly and enjoyed some encouraging spells of possession in the opening exchanges, before the visitors broke the deadlock after 14 minutes when Walters picked up the ball outside the area and curled an effort beyond Latics goalkeeper Joe Walsh and into the far corner.

Latics responded well and almost found an equaliser midway through the half as Max Power tried his luck from distance, but his effort drifted just wide.

Wigan’s new recruit Sonny Perkins then came close on 28 minutes, heading narrowly over the crossbar from a dangerous delivery, before new signing Hindolo Mustapha fired over from range.

Port Vale doubled their lead four minutes before the interval, although it was a moment Walsh will not look back on fondly. The new Latics keeper initially saved Walters’ effort, but the ball somehow squirmed over him and into the net.

Wigan thought they had pulled one back immediately when Perkins found the net straight from the restart, but the striker’s effort was ruled out for offside. The Valiants took a 2-0 lead into the break.

Wigan’s Chris Sze threatened early in the second half, dragging an effort just wide, but Port Vale soon extended their advantage. A trialist made it 3-0 on 54 minutes with a well-taken volley to put the visitors firmly in control.

Caldwell made 10 changes on the hour mark, introducing the likes of Tobias Brenan, Ronan Darcy, Joseph Hungbo, K’Marni Miller and Harrison Rimmer. The changes injected fresh energy into Wigan’s performance, with Hungbo and Miller both looking lively in attacking areas.

Latics eventually got on the scoresheet after 71 minutes as academy graduate Rimmer reacted quickest after Akeel Higgins’ cross was punched clear, heading home to reduce the deficit.

Wigan created a couple of promising moments late on, but they were unable to find another goal as Port Vale claimed victory in the pre-season run out. Despite the defeat, there were a few positives to take for Caldwell’s new-look side, along with plenty to work on ahead of the new League One campaign.

Wigan: Joe Walsh, Jon Mellish, Trialist, James Carragher, Connor Barrett, Fraser Murray, Jensen Weir, Max Power, Hindolo Mustapha, Chris Sze, Sonny Perkins. Subs: Tom Watson, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Morgan Fox, Tobias Brenan, Harrison Rimmer, Ronan Darcy, K’Marni Miller, Akeel Higgins, Joseph Hungbo, Dara Costelloe, Adam Moseley.

Port Vale: Jackson Smith, Cam Humphreys, George Byers, Jaheim Headley, Jordan Gabriel, Liam Gordon, Mo Faal, Onel Hernandez, Oli Lynch, Rhys Walters, Trialist A.